Future Dragoon Ability Ideas

Does anyone else recall all the Dragoons through-out Final Fantasy's history?

Just going to list a few of the more popular Dragoons from the series below.

Appearances such as:

Ricard Highwind - FFII

Kain Highwind - FFIV

Cid Highwind - FFVII

Ward Zabac - FFVIII

Freya Crescent - FFIX

Sir "Iron-tail" Fratley - FFIX

Kimahri - FFX

Llyud - FFXII: Revenant Wings

Oerba Yun Fang - FFXIII

Now as the title suggest, this thread is about the Dragoon job, and the evolution of it's abilities. Forgive me, as I know everyone has their own opinions, but I personally feel that which makes a Dragoon, a Dragoon, is it's spear/lance and their plethora of Jump-based skills paired with Lancet.

For those who are unfamiliar with Lancet, it's an iconic ability used to steal the enemy's HP/MP.

Every Dragoon in the series, named or otherwise revolves around the use of their polearm weaponry, and Jump skill sets. Almost all of the games also incorporate the Lancet ability, though with differing names in the later titles they still perform the same.

Can we hope to see more Jump skills make it into the game?

For example, Double Jump, a much stronger version of the original Jump. I could see the combo system working for this, performing jump successfully could allow you to combo Double Jump, with an increase to damage or a reduced recast time.

Jump skills in the previous games also prevented the Dragoon from taking damage while in the air, so perhaps we could see more utility-based Jump abilities as well. Elusive Jump has already made it's way into the game as a means to evade a short to mid-range attack and effectively drop your enmity a bit when executed.

I recall seeing a post where someone has mentioned Dread Spike being a useless ability, and I could agree. I also agree that Lancet would make a great replacement for it. Having a more controlled recovery spell, someone like the Pugilist's Second Wind, with a relatively short recast time and moderately better restorative effects in comparison to Dread Spike.

I would like to see them rework Power Surge as well, albeit it does give a nice boost to attack power, I hardly find myself using it as Life Surge trumps it 90% of the time I'm playing DRG. I recall Speed Surge II being more useful as it increased your auto-attack speed while still giving the health regen per hit. Perhaps we could see two beneficial effects on either Surge skill.

An attack power boost paired together with increased TP generation on Power Surge. A +10% damage reduction modifier (something small, yet helpful when taking constant damage like Aurum Vale) and health regen on Life Surge?

These are all just thoughts on how to better progress the class, but I believe the developers should focus more on the weapon-skills and putting the DRG in the middle of the fray, rather than implementing a pet, and making you rely on that instead. Through-out the series it's rare that a Dragoon would have a pet by it's side, yes it has happened but not enough to say a Wyvern, or any other form of pet, is the Dragoon's signature.

Looking at 2.0, they're planning to implement the basic, mash your space-bar and jump around recklessly feature. Which is a nice addition I suppose, but I find that's all the more reason to focus on the Dragoon's Jump skill-set and keep it unique so another player can't walk up to you and say, "Hey! I can jump too! See?!" while mashing his space-bar as mentioned above. Add more flashy effects like those Dragonfire Dive possesses, add more useful effects as well, so they aren't just for show.

There's so much more floating around in my head right now...but I really want to get back into the game and (Jump) on stuff before the servers go down for the transfers+patch. Please feel free to post your own thoughts and how you feel the Dragoon class should progress or evolve with the growth of FFXIV.

Lancet is a great ability!

Super Jump and High Jump would be great too. One could be a Jumping ability that takes longer to land, but deals greater damage as well as reducing enmity a little bit, and the other one a could totally erase hate, while dealing decent damage.

I think Freya's skillset is the best of all DRGs in FF series. As a 2hr ability we could use her trance Jump which makes her be on the air for long time and keep hitting the mob with massive damage and avoiding harm.

DRGs have a lot of skills to use, pls SE give us more :D

I would love a Jump ability that has the Dragoon take a longer time in the air, but comes down on one enemy and then bounces to others, for when fighting multiples. Practical? Maybe. Hilarious to see? Yes.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Krono

I would like to see them rework Power Surge as well, albeit it does give a nice boost to attack power, I hardly find myself using it as Life Surge trumps it 90% of the time I'm playing DRG.

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You shouldn't be taking any damage as a DRG in a party that a WHM can't heal, thus making Life Surge useless. If you're pulling too much hate and getting attacked by the mobs, then hold back a bit or get some -enmity equipment or materia. Life Surge is really only useful solo, and Jobs are for party, so unless you play solo 90% of the time then Power Surge should be better.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Masamune1004

You shouldn't be taking any damage as a DRG in a party that a WHM can't heal, thus making Life Surge useless. If you're pulling too much hate and getting attacked by the mobs, then hold back a bit or get some -enmity equipment or materia. Life Surge is really only useful solo, and Jobs are for party, so unless you play solo 90% of the time then Power Surge should be better.

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Yes, Power Surge would be nice in a party with a competent healer. However, that's hardly the case with the way the classes/jobs are right now. THM/BLM burn is near set in stone in most minds as far as group content goes. The 90% of the time I'm playing DRG IS solo, and between Life Surge III and Second Wind, I can stay at 95%+ HP as I farm whatever it may be I'm farming, with absolutely NO downtime.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Krono

Yes, Power Surge would be nice in a party with a competent healer. However, that's hardly the case with the way the classes/jobs are right now. THM/BLM burn is near set in stone in most minds as far as group content goes. The 90% of the time I'm playing DRG IS solo, and between Life Surge III and Second Wind, I can stay at 95%+ HP as I farm whatever it may be I'm farming, with absolutely NO downtime.

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So we should reform an ability because people like to stack jobs? DRG does just fine in parties, and is a powerhouse DD with Power Surge III.

Jump ability that stays up in air longer to avoid some damage/ability like FFIV but when it comes down it stuns the mob + crit damage WS at same time it stuns the player while the mob is stunned (kind of like having the lance through mobs tail, or w/e keeping the mob/player in place)

High miss rate (still has the evasion from damage/ability for few seconds more so still good to use) but if it hits would be a sweet ability.

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Originally Posted by Reinheart

Jump ability that stays up in air longer to avoid some damage/ability like FFIV but when it comes down it stuns the mob + crit damage WS at same time it stuns the player while the mob is stunned (kind of like having the lance through mobs tail, or w/e keeping the mob/player in place)

High miss rate (still has the evasion from damage/ability for few seconds more so still good to use) but if it hits would be a sweet ability.

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Sounds like an evasive control ability. Interesting idea. Would be cool to impale certain foes to the ground after landing a Jump attack and rendering both the user and the target immobile for a set amount of time. Might even tie into the whole limb crippling system that's already in place. I could also see it working like a channeled effect, that if hit during the stun timer, it's broken immediately.

Also just remembered the devs mentioning the implementation of cast bar frames for target's and party members. It'd be interesting to see how this idea could be used to interrupt certain skills/spells, to prevent a possible wipe or to gain an advantage over a boss for a short amount of time such as interrupting a heal/buff spell.

I wouldn't mind seeing some of the abilities from FF: Tactics Advanced used by the Dragoons, i.e. Fire Breath, Bolt Breath and Ice Breath.

That or more versions of Dragonfire Dive or an ability to switch DfD's elemental attribute.

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Originally Posted by Narctiss

I wouldn't mind seeing some of the abilities from FF: Tactics Advanced used by the Dragoons, i.e. Fire Breath, Bolt Breath and Ice Breath.

That or more versions of Dragonfire Dive or an ability to switch DfD's elemental attribute.

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I had thought about this as well, though I wonder how it would work if we took the weapon enhancement idea from the MNK job, and imbue our lances with lightning/fire/ice elements. The thought behind it is to save us from adding too many animation lock abilities and round it out with more of a temporary elemental damage buff.

I haven't thought about it too hard, as I'm curious about 1.21a's release tonight.

Some abilities you say?

Dragonheart (wanted it soo bad in XI...its a FFT ability that gave RR when damaged)
Modifications to prevent abuse in a MMO standard:
Cast: Instant
Duration: 1hr
Trigger: Must be hit with a move that deals more than half of your total HP to trigger the RR effect
Recast: 15min

Breath attacks in general (Fire, Ice, Thunder)
Make them PIE based to add an interested twist to the mechanics)
Make them have a unique AoE range, Target + left and right of target splash AoE

Double Jump (like mentioned earlier)
But instead of just a stronger version, make it attack two targets, or the same target twice if not other target is within range (second target is random)

Lancet
Of course, this should be a given.

Cloud Breaker Jump
Jump that leaves you in the air for an extended duration of time to avoid damage
Damage reduction -30% while in the air
AA and WS/ability use is locked out while in the air


Some ideas.

I wouldn't mind seeing a few attacks that manipulate the target or change your position relative to the target.

Somewhat jumpish ability where you leap over the target, thrust your spear down on it, spin and land facing the target from behind could be not only a very neat animation, but useful for some back attack combos. Low damage traded for excellent positioning.

Maybe a lance type pushback attack that shoves the enemy to mid/pole range which would be a nice way to add something akin to elusive jump without it being too similar. Maybe the effect could lower defence to Ranged+pole arm attacks.

Some attacks that use the butt of the spear, for instance maybe your thrust it to the back of the knee to turn an enemy to to show you its flank or make it immobile for 1-2 seconds or apply slow. Perhaps one where you slam it onto their toes and the thing hops around for a moment in pain momentarily stopping its auto-attacks (special attacks can still be used)

Spears and pole ares are in part excellent weapons because they combine the usefulness of a staff with sharpened ends, i'd like to see us as lancers/Dragoons make good use of its many strengths.

Would also love to see some more varied animations for the combos we have now and future attacks.. Many of the attacks are very similar and very basic. I may be the minority but provided the animations aren't absurdly long i don't mind animation lock as much as many. Perhaps because if your doing something like attacking i figure you should have to attack to attack, if that makes sense. (very tired right now)

I've always loved Dragoon and the jump abilities. But too much of a good thing can end up a bad thing. Not sure if it would be as fun if i had a whole action bar of skills that jump me off screen +varied effects. Add more jump skills but add some other things too please :)